Climate Change TeachIn Warm up

1
Climate Change Teach-In Warm up

• Whats All the Fuss About?
• CHEM 301 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry, Dr.
  Erik Krogh
• Vancouver Island University

2
Progression of Scientific Consensus Statements

• the balance of evidence suggests that there is a
  discernible human influence on global climate.
  IPCC SAR, 1995
• ..most of the observed warming over the last 50
  years is likely to have been due to the increase
  in greenhouse gas concentrations. IPCC, TAR,
  2001
• "it is extremely likely that human activities
  have exerted a substantial net warming influence
  on climate since 1750," where "extremely likely"
  indicates a probability greater than 95. IPCC,
  FAR, 2007

CHEM 301 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry, Dr.
Erik Krogh Vancouver Island University
3

• Warming of the climate system is now evident
  from observations of increases in global average
  air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of
  snow and ice and rising global average sea
  level. IPCC FAR 2008

CHEM 301 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry, Dr.
Erik Krogh Vancouver Island University
4
Greenhouse Effect
CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, SF6, HCFCs
5
IPCC Third Assessment Report, 2001
380 ppm
280 ppm
1800
CHEM 301 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry, Dr.
Erik Krogh Vancouver Island University
6
Science, Vol. 302, pp. 1719-1723, 2003.
CHEM 301 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry, Dr.
Erik Krogh Vancouver Island University
7
Global Temperature Projections
IPCC, Third Assessment Report, 2001
CHEM 301 Aqueous Environmental Chemistry, Dr.
Erik Krogh Vancouver Island University
8
Predictions

• Rising Surface and Air temperatures (non-uniform
  around globe maybe non-linear)
• Loss of Polar and Alpine Ice (albedo water
  storage)
• Sea-Level Increase (depends on Greenland ice cap)
• Marine Acidification (coral loss)
• Oceanic Currents and Weather Pattern changes
• Food Shortages and Human Displacement
• Biodiversity and Species Extinctions

9
Stern Report - 2006

• There is still time to avoid the worst impacts
  of climate change if we take strong action
  now.
• If we do not act, the overall costs and risks of
  climate change will be equivalent to losing 20
  per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP),
  whereas the cost of early action can be limited
  to around one per cent of global GDP.

10
BC Climate Action Team

• Simply put, B.C. will find it easier to attain
  its greenhouse gas reduction targets with the
  support and participation of the people of
  British Columbia. Our daily habits as
  consumers, as employers and employees, as members
  of geographic communities and communities of
  interest will have to change if we truly wish
  to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.

11
goBeyond Questions

• How does the subject matter or applications of
  this course relate to climate change?
• What skills or ideas do we learn about in this
  course that can contribute to our campus or
  communitys effort to solve climate change?
• What are some of the characteristics of a
  climate-neutral 2050? What can we do today to
  help make that future a reality?

www.go-beyond.ca